Sheri Lynn Posted February 12, 2015 Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 Long story short I've been sick about eight months.my pcp immediately thought pots. Symptoms are : weight gain extreme fatigue dizziness tachycardia cold intolerance wide swings in bp irritability brain fog heavy arms and legs tingling in arms and legs.Saw a neroulogist and diganosed with mild sleep apena he didn't think pots but referred me to a cardiologist bc my heart rate didn't drop before 90 while sleeping. Wore holter monitor and stress test. Cardiologist said my stress test was normal and although my pulse ran a little high he didn't think it was anything to worry about. My heart rate got down to 70 and 80 but averaged around 109. It was significantly higher in daytime hours (when walking) then toward evening when I was sitting watching TV.He did say he thought pots could be a possibility but wouldn't explain all symptoms. He diagnosed me with tachycardia and gave me a beta blocker for symptoms. Pcp just called and said my blood tests show hypothyroidism and she gave me senthroid. My question is does this sound like pots an vs hypothyroidism? Should I pursue checking into pots and try to get the tilt table test my pcp originally wanted? Or do I try the beta blocker and thyroid med? I just want answers. Sorry this was long.thank you in advance, right now any insight means the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoGiuliana Posted February 12, 2015 Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 Hi Sheri--it could be both POTS and a thyroid problem. I developed both Hashimoto's thyroiditis and POTS at once. My thyroid problem was diagnosed and treated but POTS was not diagnosed until several years later when it arose again during pregnancy and post partum. For me a thyroid imbalance triggers POTS. It was very confusing to my doctors at the time who could not understand how I could be hypothyroid yet have tachycardia, tremors and other symptoms that are typical of hyperthyroid patients. Yet, once my thyroid levels were normalized, my POTS symptoms improved.I would pursue the POTS diagnosis if I were you. But you may also find that once you regulate your thyroid that your POTS symptoms will improve--I hope so! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheri Lynn Posted February 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 Thank you! That is what I'm thinking about and all discuss with my pcp. I present as a typical hypothyroidism patient but that doesn't explain the tachycardia, vertigo, or heaviness/tingling in my arms and legs so I'm sure something else must be going on. Hopefully getting my thyroid under control will lessen the other symptoms. I have been drinking 3 to 4 liters of water a day for the past 6 months and just recently stopped using extra salt. It also seems to help when I wear compression socks. I'm curious to see if my pcp diagnosis me with hasimotos, as I know something must have triggered the hypothyroidism. I'm so glad you were able to find something that helped you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoGiuliana Posted February 12, 2015 Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 It's great that your pcp thought of POTS. I saw several specialists (cardiologist and endo) and no one ever mentioned POTS. All that was mentioned was mental illness (anxiety and depression). It wasn't until post partum and my symptoms were very severe that I was seen by an EP and had a tilt table test done that anyone mentioned POTS to me...That was over 10 yrs ago and fortunately many more doctors are aware of the condition now it seems.Hope you feel much better soon. I did a lot of reading initially about thyroid disease and treatment. Synthroid has worked well for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheri Lynn Posted February 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 It is odd to me that my pcp mentioned it because the nerou the cardiologist and the endocrinologist I saw (who were supposed to be very good) acted like they knew very little about it. Sometimes I wonder if pcps or younger docs are just more open minded then others? Did you find any environmental things you could do to lessen symptoms? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomtoGiuliana Posted February 12, 2015 Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 It's definitely possible that younger doctors are more informed. Fluids, more salt and moderate exercise have helped the most for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katybug Posted February 12, 2015 Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 Sheri Lynn,There are specific blood tests to check for Hashimotos autoantibodies. My mom and sister both have it and I have been tested multiple times because my thyroid is periodically enlarged. At least you have put another piece of the puzzle together. It never hurts to pursue ruling POTS in or out since it seems to take forever to get appointments, etc.. One thing that my pots neuro taught me is to only change one thing at a time though so you know if it is working, giving side effects, etc.. When you change too many things at once, it's impossible to sort out. It may be good that you are starting the thyroid treatment now so you know how you are reacting to it by the time you get an answer on the pots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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